Billie Hoelscher April 1, 1929 - August 26, 2022

Billie Hoelscher

of St. Louis passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26^th , 2022 surrounded by her loving family.  She was born on April 1, 1929 in Letart Falls, Ohio to William O. and Ruth Barnitz, the 7^th of 8 siblings.  She graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1947, and from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1951.  Her first teaching job was in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham.  In the summer of 1951 she came to Lubbock, Texas to visit her sister Thanet’s family.  While there, she was introduced to a young Texas Tech graduate, Melvin Hoelscher, and they married 6 months later.  She taught at Ropesville, Tx and Lubbock’s Wheelock Elementary school until their first son was born in 1954; 5 more sons followed in the next ten years.  After ten years in Lubbock, they relocated to Pecos, Texas and then to Amarillo for 22 years.  She taught at Forrest Hills’ Elementary and for twelve years at St. Joseph’s Kindergarten in Amarillo.  In 1984 she and Mel moved to St. Louis where she lived for her final 38 years.  She taught at St. Blaise and Mason Ridge schools in St. Louis.  She and Mel were always very active in their Catholic parish organizations everywhere they lived.  Billie was also an avid bridge player.  She was in 3 or 4 groups at present as well as the Holy Hatters Red Hats Club and St Richard Bible Study group.  She and Mel traveled numerous times to Europe, exploring individual areas one at a time. They spent several winters on the Spanish coast, and visited North Africa, Central America, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska; as well as traveling across the states to their grandkid’s baptisms, first communions, graduations, and weddings.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 1 brother, 4 sisters, 1 daughter-in-law, and a great granddaughter.

She is survived by her sons Mike of Boston; Greg (Robin) of Greenwich, Ct; Tim (Kim) of New Haven, Mo; Steve (CJ) of Florence, Tx; Bill (Mary Ann) of Arlington, Tx; and Drew (Lori) of Tishomingo, Ok.; sister, Wilma Nelson of Minneapolis; brother Robert Barnitz of Mason, WV ; 22 grandchildren: Garrett Hoelscher; Madison (Derrick) Kemph; Cicely (Sasha) Nisenzon; Logan Hoelscher;  Jenny Lynn (Jeremiah) Ellis; Rev. Matthew Hoelscher; Julia (Philip) Blaxton; Meredith (Ash) Idais; Chris (Stefanie) Hoelscher; Tyler (Sarah) Hoelscher; Ryan (Megan) Hoelscher; Hailey Hoelscher; Kaleb Hoelscher; Glory Hoelscher; Jordan Hoelscher; Daniel Hoelscher; Stephanie (Jeff) Baynham; Patrick (fiancé Jenny) Hoelscher; Nicholas Hoelscher; Alyssa (Dylan) Higginbotham; Mark (Elle) Hoelscher; Madeline (Danny) Mangan, and 40 great-grandchildren.

Services:  Visitation and Rosary will be Tuesday evening August 30^th at 7:00 PM at St Richard Catholic Church, 11223 Schuetz Road, St Louis, Mo 63146.  Funeral Mass will be Wednesday August 31st at 9:00 AM at St Richard celebrated by Father Matthew Hoelscher, her grandson.  The family requests memorials to St. Richard Catholic Church.  Flowers may be ordered through Lesher’s Flowers, www.leshersflowers.com or 314-832-3500.